VintageScooterDude wrote:
I've been a fan of vintage Vespas before they were vintage. Over 50 years. But a modern 4 stroke CVT copy just won't do. While I do love the looks of the now vintage Vespas, I mostly want the substance. The simple and beautiful sounding 2 stroke engine, the manual transmission and clutch, the interaction between the rider and the machine, and the overall mechanicalness of it. Vintage Vespas use 1940s technology. Back in 2009, I made an impulse decision to buy the last 2 stroke Genuine Stella my local dealer had in stock. It was probably the last new one in the state. And I have not regretted it. It has provided an amazing amount of fun over the last 14 years and 15,000+ miles, and has been almost trouble free. That "clunk" when you shift gears is very satisfying. Actual mechanical parts meshing together, controlled by a cable.
My first Vespa was a Taiwanese PGO 150 bought new in 1987. I lacked the skills and knowledge to repair it when the cruciform broke and bent the primary shaft.
35 years later, picked up a Stella, P200 and a '62 VBB. I guess I don't think of them as vintage, because I'm kinda vintage myself at this point. I just love the fact that any of those engines could fit into any of those bikes.
I will always prefer vintage scooters (and cars), but I do appreciate the comfort, reliability and lack of maintenance of modern vehicles. I'm not in a hurry to have a modern scooter and would have to at least try one first.